AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 136, 30 May 1908, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

FEDERAL POSTAL DEPARTMENT. Melbourne. May 20. In the House Mr. Deakin announced that & Royal Commission would be appointed to inquire into the condition of the Postal Department and the cause of complaints. Tbero was an extraordinary and exceptional increase o" last year, the increased expen diture being over half a million. GERMANY IS THE SOUTH SEAS. Melbourne, May -■>. Referring to the cable that German; intended to send a second cruiecr to tli gout% Seas, Mr. Deakin does nut thini there is anything significant in the facl The work of preserving order amongs the widely scattered Hands has doubt teas been found too great for one crul«e to satisfactorily accomplish. MURDER ASD SUICIDE. Perth, May 29. A tragedy occurred in Moore etree where John Odgers, a laborer, thot "oi wife dead and blew out his own braim A few months ago Odgers married a w dow named Monean, but owing to h. dissolute habits his wife obtained a se| a ration order. Yesterday Odgers mi his wife in the street and threaten* her. Sho took refuge in a shop. Tt owner tried to prevent Odgers enterm and he threatened to shoot the owne Pushing past Ihim, Odgers fired tlirj hhots at his wife, and roluraing to tl door shot nimaelf. mount lyell RETURNS-. Melbourne, May 29. The Mount Lyell returns from Api 23rd till May 20, inclusive, show tfc tons of or«* *<.'*■<! trcntod. a'* 2l« ton" of pur<b.i-»il or''. "ll»: CIS f>u- "1 M»-lvr 'l'l'' containing copper G3U W' ; - i!v, rl ' ■'* ounces, pold 1223 ounce*. The -li"i age of blister copper i- chiefly owing an accident to the winding engine. A BURSTING METEOR. Sydney, May 2f. A large meteor at J-eadville bin with a report like a heavy gun. awa cning many sleepers. DISASTROUS EXPLOSION ON A STEAMER.

Sydney, May Advice ha* heen received that a toiler Pteanier Pahud while loading at lkde van. demolishing tlic j>ort of the •teamer and a portion of the whart »hed- alongside. Xumher* of passengers were blown ashore with the debris thirteen passenger* iK-ing killed and wounded. One of the crew was killed, town wen» wonndetl. and four are mi-r ing. The